On 10-11 June 2010, Thailand, as the country coordinator of ASEAN-Canada dialogue relations, hosted the 7th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue at Siam City Hotel, Bangkok. The Meeting was co-chaired by Mrs. Chitriya Pinthong, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Kenneth Macartney, Director-General, South, Southeast Asia & Oceania, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada.
The 7th ASEAN-Canada Dialogue discussed and exchanged views on strategic issues ranging from political and security to economic and international issues, including Afghanistan/ Pakistan border, transnational crime and counter-terrorism, Asia-Pacific Regional Architecture, global economic and financial crises, and food and energy security. The Meeting also reviewed recent developments in both ASEAN and Canada, and discussed on how to further enhance their cooperation, particularly the update on Canada’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the finalization the draft Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on the ASEAN-Canada Enhanced Partnership 2011-2015 before the adoption by their foreign ministers at the PMC in Hanoi on 22 July 2010.
Canada’s intention to accede the TAC indicated her readiness to engage more actively and substantively to maintain peace and stability and to promote prosperity in the region, particularly in supporting ASEAN community building process in 2015.
Thailand, as the country coordinator, is determined to strengthen and advance the ASEAN-Canada cooperation, particularly through these following matters:
1) The adoption of the Plan of Action at the PMC+1 with Canada in Hanoi this July;
2) Canada’s accession to the TAC;
3) The conclusion of the ASEAN-Canada Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA);
4) The cooperation and implementation of ASEAN-Canada projects and activities in Thailand;
5) Pursue active participation from the Canadian side in the ASEAN Community building process by 2015, and the development of the regional architecture; and
6) Canada’s support on a continued participation of the ASEAN Chair in the G-20 Summit which Canada has already invited both Viet Nam and the Secretary-General of ASEAN to attend the G20 Summit in Toronto during 26-27 June 2010.
Those efforts to strengthen and advance ASEAN-Canada cooperation will benefit both Thailand and ASEAN as a whole, especially through Canada’s assistance to ASEAN including Thailand, on top from what Canada has directly offered to each Member States, namely in regional connectivity in ASEAN, technical assistance and development.
For further information, please contact the Press Division, Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Tel.02-6435170, Fax.02-6435169, E-mail: div0704@mfa.go.th